hagel will be there for you. finally, he represents the bipartisan stance we need more of in washington. for his independence and consensus, he has earned the respect of military leaders, republicans and democrats, including me. in the senate, i came to admire his courage and his judgment and his willing it is to speak his mind, even if it wasn't popular, even if it deified the conventional wisdom. that is exactly the spirit i want on my national security team, a recognition that when it comes to the defense of our country, we are not democrats or republicans. we are americans. each of us has a responsibility , conduct has said, not to be guided by the interest of our party or our president even, but by the interest of our country. i thank you, chuck, and lillibeth to serve once more if the interests of our country. when i am on the subject patriots, let me say a few words about john brennan. john brennan, the men and women of the cia will have the leadership of our nation's most skilled and respected tenl profes